It was cold. Colder than she ever expected, and it had little to do with the temperature. Blizzards and ice weren't ideal, but Sydney was always prepared.
She hadn't been prepared for this.
The hair on her arms rose, rigid, just like the rest of her. She held her shoulders high, forcing herself to meet his eyes. For a moment, she could almost pretend they were human; that she was safe.
Her eyes darted to the fangs on full display, a coy smile tugging at his lips. Sydney blinked rapidly, shooing away the image of her blood dripping down his chin. "Miss Sage, what can I do for you?"
She wasn't supposed to be here. Despite her desperate wish, this wasn't pretend.
Only a fool would let their guard down around him. Zmey. She'd heard the whispers, a thousand rumours buzzing around her.
Sydney was no fool, yet there she stood, several feet apart. She didn't dare venture closer. Her eyes darted around the empty street, searching for any sign of life- human or otherwise. Inside, the house was busy, bursting with laughter and life.
Sort of. She supposed it was still life, even if it was unthinkable. Unnatural. They were kind people- no: creatures. They were so kind that she almost forgot what they were.
She knew who Abe was. He stood tall and dapper, dressed in red and gold. She wondered if he'd chosen red on purpose, some kind of unconscious longing. She clenched her fists at her side, her face hard as her eyes returned to the man in front of her. "I've heard things about you."
His laugh echoed down the street, though it lacked the warmth of those inside. His laugh held no love, no kindness or soul. He smiled widely at the young Alchemist. "And I, you."
The comment struck fear through her. What did this monster know about her? How could he know anything? She wasn't naive, she knew he had connections. She briefly wondered if the Alchemists knew exactly how Abe Mazur operated. How was it possible he got his hands on so many things?
Did he know where she lived? Where her mother and sisters slept peacefully in their beds?
He was taunting her. "I know what you do." Her voice wavered the slightest, and internally she flinched. Sydney straightened up.
"Oh, Miss Sage, I highly doubt that." His smile never faltered. He took a step closer, gliding as though he had no cares in the world. As though this was fun.
Like it was a game.
"I know that you make business propositions." Sydney met his gaze. The devil stared back at her, eyebrows raised. She piqued his interest.
"Ah, a young, eager Alchemist." Abe shook his head, another small step forward. Sydney fought the urge to take one back. "My business has nothing to do with the Alchemists, Miss Sage. It would be wise to keep your nose out of it."
"This isn't about the Alchemists." There it was. You couldn't be sent to re-education for talking to a Moroi, but this...what she was about to do? This was treason. This was betraying her organization, betraying humans-
This was protecting her sister.
"I know that you can...get things done." She spoke barely above a whisper, but she knew his unnaturally advanced hearing could pick up her words. "Make things happen."
She certainly had piqued his interest. Abe looked at the blonde girl before him curiously. She was dressed as they all were, in drab clothes with no personality. Business casual, they call it. Abe preferred his business to have some flair.
"I suppose I can." Abe shrugged, studying the Alchemist before him.
"I need...I need something."
"That much, Miss Sage, is obvious. Though you should get to the point. My time is very valuable."
"I need assurances." Something in her tone changed. Sydney spoke with a confidence and hardness that she didn't at all feel. "Total anonymity."
"My business has always practiced confidentiality, Miss Sage."
Sydney's nails dug into her hands. Could she trust him? The vampire before her stood, gold jewelry glimmering in the light. This wasn't just a deal with an unholy creature. This was a deal with the worst kind of Moroi. A creature who only cared about his profits. And yet, he was the only one who could help her.
Her chest was heavy. What she was going to say was a one way ticket to re-education. She would say goodbye to her life, her freedom...her mind.
Her shoulders dipped with the weight of her knowledge. What he had done to Carly. For too long he had gotten away with it, carrying on as the Perfect Little Alchemist. She knew the truth. She'd held her sister in her arms after it happened.
Zmey may be an unholy creature of the night, but Keith was just another monster. Sydney was done watching the world reward him while Carly shrank back into her shadow.
"Keith Darnell."
"I beg your pardon?"
"You're going to attack Keith Darnell." She did not waver. She spoke aloud, cold as ice. "You're going to hunt him down and rip out a piece of him." Just like he had done to Carly.
Abe looked her up and down, shaking his head slowly. Through an amused smile, he asked "what part exactly are we referring to?"
"You're going to cut out his eye." Cold, calculated. Distant. Exactly what she needed to be. Why should he walk away unscathed after what he did?
He would remember the pain. She would make sure of it. He would watch as they took a piece of him. He would cry out, alone. A broken shell of a man. The thought made Sydney's lips twitch upwards.
"Taking out an Alchemist's eye is no easy feat."
"I have money." Sydney's life had been stolen from her in a different way than Carly's, though neither girl had a choice. Sydney would never go to college, never experience the world how she wanted.
Her savings sat untouched, gaining interest.
"Money...my dear, you are mistaken."
"What?"
"I am not going to do this for money."
"What do you mean?" She'd been punched in the gut. "You have to do this."
"I don't have to do anything, Miss Sage. I am a business man who picks his ventures carefully." Abe took one last step towards her, closer than he ever should have been. "I will do this."
"But you just sai-"
"However, not for money."
There it was again. Another punch to the gut. Bile rose in her throat, burning as it climbed its way to her mouth. "What do you mean?"
"I need something else from you. Something much more valuable than money."
Her mind raced, a thousand thoughts flying at once. What could be more valuable than money? Alchemist secrets? Did Abe want insider knowledge on operations? She couldn't. This was already a one way ticket to re-education. This was already treason. About a hundred other laws were being broken. She couldn't give up the Alchemists, no. They stood for something. Something real. They were the only protection humans had against evil. He knew she couldn't do that. It was a trap. This was a mistake. He was onto her. The Alchemists were onto her. Any second now they'd take her, kicking and screaming, back to-
Abe leaned in, whispering in her ear. Sydney's eyes widened. She gulped down the bile, staring ahead at the empty street.
Abe pulled back, his hand jutted out in front of him. She noticed his nails matched his clothes. "Do we have an agreement?"
Slowly, Sydney stuck her hand against his, shaking it firmly. Just as quickly, she dropped it back to her side. "We have a deal."
"Excellent." Abe winked at the young woman. "Well, Miss Sage, this has certainly been an enriching chat. I look forward to seeing you again." His fangs flashed. "To pay your end of the bargain."
"And what about yours?" Sydney called after him.
"You have my word, Miss Sage. All you need now is to have patience." His laughter floated through the air like an easy summer breeze. Sydney shivered, watching his figure retreat back into the Belikova house.
Her left hand made a cross against her shoulder, the sign against evil providing her little comfort.
